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WHEN IS SUPREME LORD BRAHMA, WHEN IS HE VISNU AND WHEN IS HE RUDRA!!

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Reference Varaha Purana

Sage Agastya asked Rudra "O Lord, tell me at which time are you Rudra, at which time are you Brahma and at which time are you Visnu"

Rudra Replied: 2/5

"Visnu is Supreme Brahman and in Vedas and sastras he is said to have 3 forms. Visnu for sake of Devas assumes human form in every yuga and praises me. For the sake of the world & gods, I worship these two forms of the lord (divine and human) in the Svetadvipa in Krtayuga.

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WHY DID LORD KRSNA NOT HELP ABHIMANYU!!

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Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, was the incarnation of Varcas the son of Candra. When Lord Visnu promised Bhumidevi that he would incarnate on Earth to get rid of asuras who burden the Earth, 2/4

the devas too decided to be born on Earth. A conference took place between the devas. Candra told Devas that he does not want to send Varcas whom he loves but it is not correct to stand in the way of the plan of the gods. Candra put a condition that his son would born as

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5th STORY IN SERIES

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Realizing the child lying in chamber was Lord Viśnu, Vāsudeva due to his awareness of Viśnu’s prowess completely lost his fear, began to praise him with folded palms.

Having embraced the Lord as his son Vāsudeva said: 2/10

Having embraced Lord as his son Vāsudeva said: How blessed I am that I have seen you. You have incarnated in my house with a desire to protect this world.

Devaki said: How can there be any danger to you who are Lord Viśnu himself. Let not wicked Kamsa know of your birth.

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4th STORY IN SERIES

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When Kamsa, son of Ugrasena, killed six sons of Devaki, a part of the lustre of Lord Viśnu, known as Ananta, became the seventh child entering Devaki’s womb.

Being cognisant of the fear caused by Kamsa to Yadus, Lord Viśnu 2/11

Lord Viśnu commanded his Yoga-Māyā “You go to Vraja! There in the settlement of cowherds headed by Nanda dwells Rohini, the wife of Vāsudeva. In the womb of Devaki lies my part-manifestation known as Śesa. Taking him from her womb, transfer him to Rohinis womb."

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2nd STORY IN SERIES

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VĀSUDEVA AND DEVAKI

In city of Mathura on one occasion, Vāsudeva, son of Sura, whose marriage with Devaki was celebrated, ascended the chariot with Devaki, to proceed to his place after marriage.

Kamsa, the son of Ugrasena, 2/7

being desirous of pleasing his sister (Devaki), took over the reins of horses. As procession of bride and bridegroom started, conchs, clarionets, drums and kettle-drums were sounded.

On the way, an incorporeal voice from the sky addressed Kamsa who was holding the reins:

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1st STORY IN SERIES

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SUFFERING OF MOTHER EARTH & LORD VIŚNU'S INCARNATION

Once, Mother Earth who was overburdened with the crushing weight of Daityas who assumed the guise of arrogant kings, sought refuge to god Brahmā. 2/5

Taking the form of depressed cow with her face overflowing with tears, she approached Brahmā’s and represented to him her grievous plight.

Realizing the piteous condition of earth, god Brahmā along with Earth, Lord Śiva and other gods, came to abode of Lord Viśnu

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STORY OF KING RAJI

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King Raji had five hundred brave sons. Once during a war of devas and asuras, both the devas and the asuras went to Brahma and asked who would win the war; Brahma replied that the side for which King Raji fought would win. 2/6

King Raji agreed to fight from their side if they make him Indra, Asuras rejected saying that Prahlada will be their Indra and hence King Raji refused to fight for them

The gods too came to Raji and asked him to fight on their side. King Raja presented the same condition

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The guardian deities who preside over the 8 points of the compass ie. the four cardinal and four intermediate points of the compass are:

1. Indra, east;

2. Agni, south-east;

3. Yama, south;

4. Surya, south-west;

5. Varuna, west;

6. Vayu, north-west; 2/5

7) Kuvera, north;

8) Soma, north-east.

Each of these guardian deities has an elephant who takes part in the defence and protection of the quarter, and these eight elephants are themselves called Loka-palas:

1) Indra's elephant at the east is Airavata.

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Read this story knowing that symbolically Gajendra is a human, crocodile is the sin and muddy water in lake is sāmsara

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Gajendra Moksam: Once upon a time Indradyumna stayed in his hermitage on Malaya mountain, he had undertaken the vow of silence. 2/9

Once when Indradyumna was praying to Lord Hari, There by chance arrived the celebrated sage Agastya accompanied by his disciples. Finding Indradyumna seated in solitude and remaining silent without showing the courtesy of greeting a guest the sage flared up in rage.

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The wealth that remains after completion of sacrifice is Rudra's share

Story of Nābhāga

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Nābhāga son of Nabhaga was youngest of brothers, the most learned and wise, and had spent long time as a celibate. When he returned and demanded his share 2/8

his brothers gave him their father as his share.

Nābhāga went to his father and said, “My elder brothers have allotted you as my share”. His father told, “Do not place any faith in their words, I am not a property to be enjoyed, but am a life-long commitment for maintenance

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Hiranyakaśipu: 3rd Story in the Series

Hiranyakaśipu consoles his relatives and vows to take revenge!!!

When Varaha (Lord Viśnu’s avatar) killed Hiranyāksa his brother Hiranyakaśipu was agitated with wrath. 2/9

Trembling with rage, he looked at the sky and spoke “My beloved brother was killed by insignificant enemies through Hari. I shall satisfy my brother who is thirsting for bloody with the profuse blood of Viśnu with his neck cut off by my trident”

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2nd Story in Series

Viśnu's attendant Jaya & Vijaya take 1st birth as Hiranyakaśipu & Hiranyāksa. Viśnu took avatar as Vāraha & Narsimha for their Salvation

Hiranyakaśipu & Hiranyāksa were born as asura sons of Sage Kasyapa and his wife Diti. 2/10

Hiranyāksa was always looking for a fight and in his quest for a suitable warrior he goes to svārga but Indra and other gods hide themselves. Having conquered Svārga Hiranyāksa dived into ocean, with intent to fight Varuna he arrived at Vibhāvari, the capital of Varuna

BRAHMAHATYĀ:

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Why was Indra charged with Brahma-hatyā and how did he get rid of the sin!!

Indra insulted Brihspati, Indra then out of jealously killed his guru Viśvarūpa and then again Brahmana Virtra. Both times he was charged with Brahmahatyā and had to get rid 2/11

of Brahmahatya first for killing Viśvarūpa and then for killing Virtra

After killing Viśvarūpa Indra accepted the sin of assassinating a Brāhmana but at the end of the year he distributed that sin proportionately in four parts to the earth, water, trees and young women.

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This thread catalogues some events from King Chitraketu to the Kuru Dynasty of Kauravs and Pandavas

Chitraketu : A realized King and a great Yogi gets cursed by Maa Parvati and is born as an Asura. 2/8

King Citraketu ruled in the country called Śūrasena. To him the earth yielded whatever he desired. He had many wives but did not get any children

Once sage Ańgiras arrived to his palace. King Chirtaketu duly honoured the sage and told the sage that

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Last of the 3 Part Story

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Having learnt from Nārada, the report of the death of his wife Sati on being insulted by Prajapati Daksa and of the total rout of the army of his attendants by the Bhrgu in that Sacrifice, Śiva’s anger knew no bounds. 2/9

Śiva got enraged, he pulled out a matted lock of hair which dazzled with terrific splendour, like flash of lightning and flame of fire. He sprang to his feet, and with loud laughter and roar, dashed it on ground, From it was born Virabhadra, of colossal size, who touched

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How did Sati leave her mortal body?

Not by jumping into sacrificial pit but via power of her Yoga and meditation!!

Once Daksa organised a great sacrifice, he invited everyone except Lord Śiva. When Sati came to know about the sacrifice 2/7

she requested Lord Śiva to come along with her to her father's abode and attend the sacrifice. Lord Śiva told Sati that he cannot go as he has not been invited. On repeated insistance of Sati, Lord Śiva agreed for Sati attending the function and along with her sent his gāna

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TEMPLES OF KAŚI: ATMA VIREŚVARA

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King Amitrajit conquered his enemies and ruled righteously. From his wife Malayagandini he begot a son Vīra. The boy was born under inauspicious star and hence the minister of king advised queen Malayagandini 2/5

that she should immediately abandon her son else the king will meet his death.

On hearing this, the queen called her servant and asked her to take the new born child to Vikatā Devi and submit the child in front of Devi. The queen's servant did as she was instructed.

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DO WE CONTROL MIND OR DOES MIND CONTROL US?
Read the following story twice, the 2nd time with explanation & decide for yourself.

King Purañjana had a friend called Avijñāta. King wandered earth in search of an abode. He did not approve of any of the cities as suitable. Once he reached a beautiful city having 9 gates. In the city he saw a young girl of superb beauty, she was accompanied by 10 servants and a serpent with five hoods.
The King Purañjana requested the girl to be his wife, they got married and entered the city.

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Birth of Soma, Datta and Durvāsas : When the sage Atri was urged by god Brahmā to undertake the work of creation, he along with his wife went to one of the principal mountain ranges, and was engaged in the performance of austere penance. 2/4

On that mountain, the sage controlled his mind by means of Prānāyāma and stood for one hundred years on one leg, defying heat and cold and subsisted on air.

Seeing that the three worlds were being distressed by the fire produced by the fuel of the sage’s Prānāyāma,

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There are 4 Stages of Life viz

1st Stage: Brahmacarya Āśrama ,
2nd Stage: Grhastha Āśrama,
3rd Stage: Vanaprastha Āśarama,
4th Stage: The Samnyāsa Āśrama.
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There are 4 different types of each of these stages

Contd.. 2/9

1st STAGE: Brahmacarya āśrama - Celibate stage. It is of 4 types :

- Sāvitra: observance of celibacy and study of Sāvitri for three nights from the upanayana (thread bearing ceremony),

- Prajapatya: observance of celibacy for one year,

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PRĀNĀYĀMA : Prāṇa is the vital breath in the body. That which causes the movement is called Prāna, Āyāma is checking. Hence Prāṇāyāma means checking or restraining the breath.

Apart from Prana other vital breaths are 2/5

Apana, Sāmana, Udana, Vyana, Nāga, Kurma, Krkara, Devadatta and Dhananjaya.

The vital breaths of the body can be conquered through the mastery over Prana

- Apana is the vital air that takes the food lower down.
- Vyana is diffused through the limbs and it develops them.